Monthly Archives: November 2018

Nov 18

Transform Rockford, a local organization with a mission to transform the community from within and become “Top 25 by 2025,” is pleased to announce it is teaming up with local organizations and hosting its first annual community-wide holiday book drive, November 19 – December 7. The goal of the drive is to bridge the Christmas break reading gap by putting books in the hands of young students and to encourage residents that children, as early as infants, should have access to books.

Community members are encouraged to donate new or mint-condition books from infancy through pre-k levels at one of the following locations:

·Transform Rockford, 303 N. Main Street, Suite 110

·Rockford City Hall, 425 E. State Street

·Winnebago County Administration Building, 404 Elm Street

·Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 102 N. Main Street

·Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 303 W. State Street

·Rockford Area Economic Development Council, 100 Park Avenue

·Rockford Police Stations:

oDistrict 1 – 1045 W. State Street

oDistrict 2 – 1410 Broadway

oDistrict 3 – 557 S. Newtowne Drive

·Midland States Bank Locations:

oMachesney Park, 613 Harlem Road

oCherry Valley, 1972 Pawlisch Drive

oRockford – East State Street, 6838 E. State Street

oRockford – Spring Creek Road, 2218 N. Mulford Road

oRockford – North Main Street, 1401 N. Main Street

oRockford – Highcrest, 1700 N. Alpine Road

oRockford – Inside Schnuck’s East State Street, 6410 E. State Street

oRockford – Inside Schnuck’s Charles Street, 2642 Charles Street

oLoves Park – Inside Schnuck’s Harlem & Alpine, 180 Harlem Road

“By hosting a community-wide book drive, all residents in the region can contribute to the Transformation Plan particularly in the area of education and supporting students and families, ensuring all are ready,” said Transform Rockford Executive Director David Sidney. “Statistics show that students who read at home have a higher success rate in school and children who read at grade level by the time they enter into third grade are less likely to drop out of school.”

Transform Rockford’s goal is to collect 2,000 books which will be donated to students enrolled in early childhood programs throughout the region. Transform Rockford Steering Committee members, staff and volunteers will wrap the books and directly hand them out to students during the last week of school before winter break.

“Winnebago County wholeheartedly supports Transform Rockford’s holiday book drive,” said Chairman Frank Haney. “Putting books in the hands of children during the winter break is both a gift to our young people and an investment in them. This is yet another way our community can create a culture that values and celebrates reading.”

For more information on how to donate or get involved, contact Transform Rockford Strategy & Communications Manager Katryna Kirby at (815) 977-5840 or katryna@transformrockford.org. Visit Transform Rockford’s Facebook page to stay up-to-date on book drive details.

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